On 10 March 2026, H.E. Clifford Borg-Marks presented his credentials as Malta’s first Ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to H.E. Dr Kao Kim Hourn, ASEAN Secretary-General.

The ceremony took place at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta and was followed by a cordial and constructive meeting with Secretary-General Kao and other senior ASEAN officials, including H.E. Nararya S. Soeprapto, Deputy Secretary-General for Community and Corporate Affairs, and Bala Palaniappan, Director of the External Relations Division.

During the meeting, Ambassador Borg-Marks reaffirmed Malta’s strong commitment to engaging with ASEAN within the context of the EU-ASEAN strategic partnership and underscored the importance Malta attaches to strengthening its relations with the 11 ASEAN member states. He highlighted Malta’s interest in advancing collaboration in key areas such as trade, connectivity, sustainability, education, and tourism, while emphasising the value of building cultural links and people-to-people exchanges.

The Secretary-General welcomed Malta’s decision to establish diplomatic engagement with ASEAN and conveyed ASEAN’s readiness to work closely with Malta to deepen cooperation and mutual understanding.

This first accreditation to ASEAN reflects Malta’s commitment to strengthening its international partnerships and expanding its diplomatic presence in the Asia-Oceania region. Malta looks forward to working closely with ASEAN and its member states to advance shared priorities and mutually beneficial exchanges.